The government on Friday introduced the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 in Lok Sabha, which seeks to amend 79 Central Acts administered by 23 ministries to promote ease of doing business and ease of living.

Through these amendments, the government proposes to amend 784 provisions across various laws, decriminalising 717 provisions to foster Ease of Doing Business and amending 67 provisions to facilitate Ease of Living.
From Prison to Penalties

Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada said the Bill will implement measures such as revising fines and penalties proportionate to the offence, establishing adjudicating officers and setting up appellate authorities.

The Bill was first introduced in Lok Sabha in August last year and was referred to the Select Committee. The previous version of the Bill proposed amendment in a total of 355 provisions in 16 Central Acts administered by 10 ministries and departments. After examination by the Select Committee its scope was widened to amend 70 central acts.

The Allahabad High Court on February 20, 2026 ordered tenants to vacate a building which was in a bad condition and needed to be demolished. The high court said that tenancy protection laws can't compromise public safety.

The building in Varanasi, was deemed urgently in need of demolition because it was in a highly dilapidated state and posed serious risk to its residents as well as passers-by. Consequently, the Varanasi Nagar Nigam issued a notice on August 3, 2021 under Section 331(1)(2) * 4 the Uttar Pradesh Municipalities Act. 1959, directing demolition of the unsafe structure within seven days.
For example, on August 29, 2025, a portion of the building had collapsed. disrupting traffic and posing a serious threat to public safety.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is getting ready to take action against anti-competitive practices in the artificial intelligence (AI) domain, said CCI chairperson Ravneet Kaur on Monday. She said that through the market study on AI’s impact on competition – which was conducted last year by MDI Gurrgaon, the regulator has identified potential anti-competitive conduct, and action will be taken against AI firms found to be violating the norms.

“We have identified potential areas of violations which includes concentration in AI value chain, algorithmic collusion, targeted price discrimination, self-preferencing and opaqueness in the AI applications and tools,” Kaur said.

Despite flagging anti-trust concerns in the AI space, Kaur said that there are huge amount of benefits of AI. “There are a lot of efficiency gains. It helps MSME access the market, reduces the cost of being a market player, but the potential anti-competitive actions also need to be watched.

The central government on Tuesday invoked the Essential Commodities Act (EC Act) to ensure uninterrupted supply of domestic cooking gas amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East that has disrupted the oil and gas supply.

According to the official order, the supply of natural gas to the certain sectors shall be treated as priority allocation and shall be maintained subject to operational availability to 100 per cent of their past six-month average gas consumption. These priority sectors include:

Domestic Piped Natural Gas supply
Compressed Natural Gas for transport
LPG production including LPG shrinkage requirements
Pipeline compressor fuel
other essential pipeline operational requirements

The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas had earlier directed refineries and petrochemical units to maximise production of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and divert key hydrocarbon streams to the LPG pool.

"The Central Government has assessed that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has resulted in the disruption of liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and suppliers have invoked force majeure clause which would entail diversion of natural gas to the priority sectors," it noted.

Supreme Court: While considering an appeal concerning interpretation of certain provisions of the Competition Act, 2002 (the Act), the Division Bench of Manoj Misra and K.V. Viswanathan*, JJ., stated the ecosystem of competition law provides for behavioural and structural remedies to be imposed depending on the facts of the case. As to what remedy will best address the mischief in the individual case and act as a deterrent not only for the violator but also generally would be for the CCI to decide. Internationally, these remedies are well accepted and Competition Act, 2002 in Section 27 vests the power in the CCI to pass such orders as deemed necessary to check the malaise. The ecosystem of the Competition Act is sufficient notice to the violator that the regulating body has vast discretion and depending on the factual scenario can fashion an appropriate remedy.

A Limited Liability Partnership ("LLP") is a body corporate formed and incorporated under the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008, ("LLP Act") and functions as a distinct legal entity, separate from its partners. This separation means that the LLP can own assets, enter into contracts, and be held liable independently of its partners, providing a layer of protection to the personal assets of the partners. An LLP has perpetual succession i.e. it continues to exist regardless of changes in its partnership, such as the departure, death, or insolvency of partners, subject to the terms of the LLP agreement executed between the partners.

The Platform Paradox: Marketplace, Data Engine, Competitor India's e-commerce sector, projected to exceed $160 billion in gross merchandise value by 2028,[1] is dominated by platforms that occupy three distinct commercial roles simultaneously. Amazon India and Flipkart operate as marketplace intermediaries hosting thousands of third-party sellers, as aggregators of granular transactional data generated by those sellers and their customers, and as direct competitors to those same sellers through private-label brands. This triple function is not incidental. It is embedded in the architecture of the vertically integrated platform model.

In September 2024, India notified several amendments to the Competition Act, 2023, which are expected to have a major impact on both domestic and international corporate mergers. Post the enactment of the latest amendments, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) now requires companies with significant operations in India to notify the regulator of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and amalgamations (collectively called “combinations”) that exceed INR 20 billion (US$238 million). This follows the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) setting this threshold under the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2023, with provisions to define “substantial business operations.”

The rapid expansion of big tech firms and artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping India’s competition landscape, prompting closer regulatory scrutiny, Ravneet Kaur, chairperson of the Competition Commission of India (CCI), said on Wednesday.

Speaking on Day 2 of the BS Manthan summit, Kaur said digital markets and large technology platforms have emerged as a key focus area for the regulator in recent years. She said these firms pose risks around "potential anti-competitive practices" such as self-preferencing, tying and bundling, anti-competitive agreements, and enforcing unfair terms on users.

On January 15, 2026, the Supreme Court clarified that just because a tenant has been living on a landlady's property for a long time, it does not automatically mean that the sale agreement signed by the landlady is final or that the ownership of the property has transferred from her to the tenant. The Supreme Court held that long possession of a property is legally relevant only when it flows directly from the sale agreement itself, and not when it exists independently, such as through a tenancy. In this case, the tenant had been living on the property for almost 50 years, strictly as a tenant, and not due to any sale agreement. Therefore, the tenant's possession was not legally tied to the sale agreement which was signed much later. This means that the sale agreement which the tenant claims to have signed and denied by the landlady, couldn't be treated as a completed sale or "deemed conveyance," even though money had allegedly changed hands between the landlady and the tenant.

The government may consider amending the Copyright Act based on public feedback to enable the artificial intelligence (AI) royalty payment framework, officials said. “We will relook at the paper after all the comments and may amend the Copyright Act,” an official said on condition of anonymity, after the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) committee on the intersection of AI and copyright released its first paper on December 8. The second working paper on copyrightability of AI-generated content is expected to be released in around two months.

The Indian government introduced a series of rental reforms this month — paving the way for a massive overhaul of the so far dis-regulated landscape. Both landlords and tenants must now register their agreement online within 60 days and follow cost-related rules and solve disputes within a set timeline. The changes also include several clarifications pertaining to eviction rights. According to the Home Rent Rules 2025, landlords will be required to obtain an order from a Rent Tribunal or court before evicting tenants. They are also prohibited from making personal demands, taking any forceful actions or sharing an abrupt request for the premises to be vacated. Mandatory registration of agreement The newly announced rules will also safeguard tenants from unfair evictions by mandating registration of rental agreements within the first 60 days. The document must be digitally stamped and filed online soon after signing. Some states had previously accepted handwritten contracts or physical stamp paper agreements without registration in lieu of a formal agreement. The change will ensure that the rental process is official and prevent fraud or illegal evictions. Unregistered agreements can also face penalties starting at Rs 5000.

The Consumer Affairs Ministry on Friday outlined proposed amendments to the Consumer Protection Act aimed at reducing case backlogs and accelerating dispute resolution through artificial intelligence and digital platforms. The Department of Consumer Affairs held a consultation in New Delhi to discuss reforms to the 2019 law, focusing on strict timelines for case disposal and expanded use of technology including AI and machine learning tools. Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare said the law currently mandates three-month timelines for regular cases and five months for those requiring testing, but emphasized no case should remain pending beyond six months, according to a statement.

The ministry of corporate affairs (MCA) is inviting proposals to conduct a third-party study of its Corporate Data Management (CDM) scheme, which converts company filings on the MCA21 portal into a tool for policymaking, regulation and research. The study will assess the scheme’s effectiveness, relevance, impact, and user satisfaction, while also analysing its security and access control mechanisms. Evaluating the scheme’s impact Experts said the request for proposal (RFP) would evaluate the scheme’s impact, identify operational and strategic gaps, and recommend measures for its long-term sustainability. “This is a move towards aiding government for decision making, proactive policy review and providing all stakeholders a logically and analytically derived data for research,” said Anjali Malhotra, partner (regulatory) at Nangia Andersen LLP. According to the RFP document, the selected agency will conduct consultations with ministry officials and data users, review budget allocations, perform cost-benefit analyses, and explore potential revenue-generating opportunities for the CDM system.

Facing sustained opposition from both global tech majors and leading domestic digital platforms, the government has decided to withdraw the draft Digital Competition Bill (DCB) in its current form, which was aimed at introducing ex-ante regulations for large online enterprises. Fresh draft to follow detailed market study As part of a rethink, the ministry of corporate affairs (MCA) will first commission a comprehensive market study, involving consultations with other ministries such as the ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY) and extensive engagement with industry stakeholders, before coming up with a fresh version of the legislation. Sources said that in all probability, ex-ante provisions may not figure in any fresh draft of the Bill. The move follows widespread criticism during inter-ministerial consultations and feedback from industry, which flagged the current draft as vague, subjective and overly broad in scope. Officials said that one of the key concerns was the Bill’s reliance on turnover thresholds to determine which companies would be classified as systematically significant digital enterprises (SSDE), rather than focusing solely on market power.

Parliament cleared the ‘Bills of Lading, 2025,’ bill on Tuesday (July 22, 2025), with the Rajya Sabha giving its nod to legislation aimed at modernising and simplifying India’s maritime documentation framework. Notably, the Lok Sabha had passed the bill earlier in March, paving the way for replacing the 169-year-old Indian Bills of Lading Act, 1856. A bill of lading is a key document issued by a freight carrier to a shipper, detailing the type, quantity, condition, and destination of goods being transported. The new law aims to harmonise India’s shipping documentation with global practices, providing greater efficiency and legal clarity to the sector. Replying to the debate, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal highlighted the government’s maritime vision under the Sagarmala programme, which involves over 805 projects worth Rs 5.5 lakh crore. He said that the country’s port capacity handling had nearly doubled since 2014, with coastal shipping volumes rising from 87 million tonnes in 2013-14 to 165 million tonnes, and inland waterways traffic jumping from 18 million tonnes to 145 million tonnes. Sonowal added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set an ambitious target of making India one of the world’s top five shipbuilding nations by 2047, as part of a broader goal of transforming India into a developed economy.

The corporate affairs ministry has notified a new form for the registration of entities that implement corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives on behalf of companies, a move that experts said is aimed at improving transparency in the way CSR activities are undertaken. The new form is designed to incorporate amendments to rules already announced, experts said. Universities, hospitals and some large charitable organisations that used to be exempt from the need to register themselves with the ministry for undertaking CSR activities will now have to register themselves using the revised CSR-1 form.

In a move that would make it even tougher for companies to use the web of corporate structures to divert funds and circumvent regulations, the ministry of corporate affairs has mandated higher and more detailed disclosure norms for them. Under a new set of rules to take effect from July 14, it would be mandatory for companies to furnish information on the number of subsidiaries under each layer, in addition to detailed information on each subsidiary and their corresponding holding company. These norms would enable the Registrar of Companies to strictly monitor compliance with the layering restrictions notified in 2017, which stipulated that a company can’t have more than two layers of subsidiaries, subject to a few exemptions including for banking and insurance companies, and pubic-sector firms. Under the new rules, the ministry has notified a revised form – CRL-1 – where more information on each subsidiary is required to be provided, including the type of registration, ownership structure, and corresponding holding company details. “This enhanced reporting framework is a step towards greater transparency in corporate group structures. It is also expected to strengthen regulatory oversight, and ensure better compliance with the layering restrictions prescribed under the Companies Act, 2013,” said Sandeep Jhunjhunwala, partner at Nangia Andersen LLP. All companies having subsidiaries may be required to file fresh information in the event of change in the layer of subsidiaries, he added.

What happens if you book a Rs 2.26-crore apartment based on the verbal assurance of a sales agent of a well-known builder, only to discover later that they are retracting their promises? This is the experience of an Indian homebuyer who was working in Russia at the time and decided to buy a house property in Mumbai worth Rs 2.26 crore. The sales agent from Lodha Developers (builder) assured him that in case of a personal/financial crisis or if his home loan application got rejected, the booking amount of Rs 7 lakh he paid will be refunded in full without any deductions. Unfortunately, the bank where this homebuyer applied for a home loan, turned down his application, following which the homebuyer requested the builder to cancel the booking and process a refund of the booking amount. And, this is where the problem started. The builder refused to initiate the refund and claimed that as per Clause 1.4 and 3.5 of the terms of application form (booking form) that the homebuyer had signed, no refund could be issued for such cicumstances. The homebuyer, feeling wronged by Lodha Developers (formerly Macrotech), filed a case in Maharashtra RERA (MahaRERA) under Section 12 of The Real Estate (Regulation and Development Act, 2016) or RERA Act, 2016.

There’s a certain comfort in paperwork. A registered sale deed, embossed with legalese and blessed by a sub-registrar in a half-lit office in Telangana, can make even the most skeptical buyer feel like they own the earth under their feet. Except, they don’t. In a ruling that just turned the real estate gospel upside down, the Supreme Court clarified: registration is not ownership. You read that right. You could have the ink dry on your sale agreement, the registrar’s stamp, and maybe even a housewarming party planned. But if that agreement wasn’t backed by a valid title — tough luck. Possession without proper paperwork is just glorified squatting. At the centre of this verdict is a tale as old as Indian property disputes: a housing society sells land via an unregistered agreement in 1982. Fast forward to now, and the courts have finally delivered a verdict — and a message. Physical possession doesn’t grant legal title unless it’s backed by the right documents. Specifically, title deeds, mutation certificates, and a paper trail that could make Kafka wince.